Garment or ironing press



Aug. 2l, 1934. E, DAVls ,1,971,253

GARMENT OR IRONING' PRESS Filed Feb. 21, 192; v 2 sheets-sheet 1 3 I v l Y IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Aug.21, 1934. K EDM/Is 1,971,253

GARMENT OR IRONING PRESS Filed Feb. 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mum - Y smv:

IN VEN TOR.

' A TTORNE Y.

Patented Aug. 21, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT .OFFICE GARMENT on IRONING PRESS Application February 21, 1929, Serial No.'341,777

4 Claims.

This invention relates to garment and laundry pressing machines and has for its object a particularly simple and efficient operator controlled means for locking the press closed under any degree of pressure, and particularly for locking the movable pressing element or head of a power operated press.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pressing machine embodying one form of this invention.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic View, partly in section, of the motor for closing the press, the manual control therefor, and the manual control for the press locking means.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of the cylinder lock or brake and operating means for the lock or b rake.

Figure 4 is an elevation of parts seen in Figure 3 looking to the right.

Figure 5 is an elevation of a machine embodying another form of this invention.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view, partly in section, of the cylinder of the motor which closes the press and the manual control therefor.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing the lock or brake and its operating means and the manual control for the operating means.

Figure 8 is an elevation looking to the left of parts seen in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a sectional view through the motor for operating the lock or brake band.

This pressing machine comprises, generally, cooperating pressing elements or jaws, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element, means for locking the press closed under different degrees of pressure to suit the operator, that is,to lock the movable element in any one of a number of positions, and operator-operated means for controlling the operation of the locking means.

The invention is here illustrated as embodied in the conventional type of pressing machine comprising a stationary buck 1, a press head 2,

' movable toward and from the buck, motor means for actuating the head and manual control for the motor means. The buck 1 mounted on a bracket 3 which is supported on a suitable frame Y 4. The head 2 is usually carried by the forward (Cl. 68-9)V arm of a yoke lever 5 pivoted at 6 between its ends to a standard 7 rising from the frame. Y

, The motor means, here illustrated, is a fluid operated motor comprising as oscillating cylinder 8 and a piston 9 movable in the cylinder. The so piston 9 or the motor means is single acting and the counter springsl9 and 19a are, therefore, provided to open the press upon exhaust of fluid pressure within the cylinder and release of the locking means. The counter springs 19 and 19a 65 are attached at one end to the frame and at the other end to the press lever 5. In order to permit oscillation of the motor means, the cylinder 8 is pivoted at one end at 10 to the frame 4.

The motion transmitting parts between the 70, piston 9 and the head 2, in addition to the piston rod 11 and 'the yoke lever 5, comprises, in the machine here illustrated, an angle or bell crank lever 12 pivoted `at 13 at its angle to the base of theframe 4. One arm or the lever 12 is pivoted 75.-v at 14 to the piston rodll and the other arm 15 is pivoted at 16 to the lower end of the link 17 which is pivoted at 18 to the rear arm of the yoke lever 5. The parts 15 and 1'7 form a toggle.

The flow of motive fluid, as air, to and from 80. the cylinder 8 is controlled by manually operable valve means of any suitable construction, that here illustrated comprising a valve casing 20 connected to a feed or intake pipe 21 and to the cylinder v3 through a combined intake and ex- 35i haust pipe 22. The valve casing 20 contains a normally closed spring pressed intake valve 23 and a normally open exhaust valve 24 connected to the intake valve by a stem 25 so that they act as a unit. These valves are operated by a suit- `able manual orr operator-operated member, as a push button 26, coacting with a lever 27 having an arm 28 which pushes against the end of the stem 29 of the exhaust valve 24. A spring 30 returns the lever 27 and the push button 26 to their 95, initial positions when released.

Depression of the push button 26 opens the intake valve 23 and closes the exhaust valve 24, permitting the air to enter from the feed pipe 21 and pass through the valve casing 20 out through 100 the pipe 22 to a couping 31 at the upper end of the cylinder, this coupling communicating with the intake port 32 of the cylinder.

In the form shown in Figure 1, two push buttons or manuals are shown which require both hands of the operator to be used in order to close the press. The other push button 33 acts through a lever 34 on the stem of a normally open exhaust Valve 35 located in a casing 36 which 1s connected by a pipe 37 to the coupling 31. Ob- 110 Viously, if the push button 33 is not depressed and held depressed when the push button 26 is depressed, the air will not pass into the cylinder 8 to actuate the piston 9 therein but will pass out through the pipe 37, the valve casing 36, and the exhaust port 38 controlled by the valve 35.

The means for locking the press closed in any one of a number of positions coacts with any part actuated by the piston 9 and in the illustrated embodiment of this invention, the locking means acts on the piston rod 11.

In the form shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3the locking means is normally unlockedA and when operated it shifts into position to lock the press head. Y f

The locking means is also preferably operated by a pressure operated motor, the `operation of which is controlled by the operator. Said means, as here illustrated, is a friction lock, as abrake band 40, which coacts with a brake drum 41 associated with the piston rod `11, this brake drum being mounted on a suitable bracket at the lower end of the cylinder 8 and having a gear wheel 43 which meshes with a rack 44 on the piston rod 11. The brake band is 'tightened on the brake drum by any well known mechanism including a lever arm 45 and this arm is actuated by a rod 46 which serves to transmit the motion of the pres' sure operated motor to the arm 45 to tighten the brake band on the brake drum, and hence lock the piston rod from movement.

The pressure operated-motor here illustrated is a diaphragm chamber 47 mounted on the side of the cylinder 8 and having a diaphragm 47a therein which acts on a sliding stem 48 thrusting against the end of the rod 46. When the pressure is released in the diaphragm chamber, the operating lever 45 of the brake band is returned to its normal position to release the brake band by a spring 49 interposed between a spring abutment 50 on the rod 46 and one ofthe brackets 51 through which the rod k46 slides. l

The control of motive fluid as air to and from the diaphragm chamber 47 is controlled by a valve mechanism similar to that contained in the valve casing 20; that is, a normally closed, spring pressed intake valve 52 in a valve casing 53, and a normally lopen exhaust valve 54 in said casing connected to the intake valve 52 by a stem 55. The casing 53 is connected toa feed pipe 56, and the pressure side of the diaphragm chamber 47 is connected to the valve casing by a pipe 57. The valves are operated by a manual or lever 58 grouped with the push vbutton 26, the lever having an arm 59 pushing against the stem of the exhaust valve 54. This lever 58 is held in both its normal and its operated position by a spring 60, so arranged as to give a snap action to the lever into its operated position and into its normal position. The spring 60 is connected at one end at 61 to the lever and extends lengthwise beyond'the lever and the pivot thereof, and is connected at its other end at 62 to a xed point. The 'spring is so arranged .that it swings from either side of the pivot of the lever to the other side.

Movement of the lever 58 upwardly closes the exhaust valve 5 4 and opens the intake valve 52 permittingair to enter the diaphragm chamber 47 from the pipe 56 through the valve casing 53 and pipe 57, so that when the lever 58 is pulled upwardly the brakewill be applied and lock the press closed. As the lever 58 in its upward movement swings the spring 66 to above the pivot of the lever, the spring exerts its tension to hold the lever in its operated position. To release the brake and permit the press to open under the iniiuence of its countersprings 19, 19e, the lever 58 is pushed downwardly into the position shown in Figure 2, the spring 60 swinging to the lower side of the pivot of the lever 58 and holding the lever in its normal position.

After the operator has closed the press by depressing the push buttons 26 and 33, the press can be locked at any point by pulling upwardly on the lever 58. The operator determines by the feel of the press or by the length of time the buttonsY have been depressed or by any other method when to lock the press for light, heavy and intermediate degrees of pressure. Obviously, the operation of the lever 58 at any time will lock the press in any position.

In Figures 5 to 9 inclusive, the lock or brake mechanism is normally applied to lock the press in desired position although the control mechanism may operate to temporarily release the lock or brake and permit the press to partially clo'se or close fully in graduated increments. Again the brake or lock may be released until the press is entirely closed with full pressure between the jaws, whereupon the press is locked in this position. This brake mechanism, per se, is substantially the same as that shown in Figure 3 except that the spring 64 acts upon a spring abutment 65 on the operating rod 66 to actuate the lever 67 o the brake band 68 to tighten the brake band on the brake'drum 69, or in other words, the spring applies the brake instead of releasing it. The movement of the diaphragm 70 in the diaphragm chamber 71 is transferred to the push rod 66 through Ya lever 72, pivoted between its ends. The stem 73, against which the diaphragm 70 acts, thrusts downwardly against one arm of the lever 72 and the other arm of this lever 72 pulls upwardly on the thrust rod 66.

The ow of motive fluid to the cylinder 74 of the machine shown in Figure 5 is controlled by a valve mechanism exactly like the valve mechanism in the valve casing 20, Figure 2. .This valve mechanism is operated by a push button 75.

The flow of motive fluid to and from the dia-` phragm chamber 71 is also controlled by a valve mechanism similar to that contained in the valve casing 20,.that` is, a normally closed, spring pressed intake valve 76,-a normally open exhaust valve 77 both located in the casing 78 and connected together to act as a unit, and these valves are operated by/a push button 79. The valve casing 78 is connected to a feed pipe'80, and the valve casing is connected to the diaphragm chamber n71 through a pipe 81;v

To close the press the operator `must depress both pushbuttons and 79 and hold them depressed. Push button 75 controls the flow of air to the cylinder 74 to actuatethe piston therein and close the press, but if the push button 79 is not depressed, the press cannot be closed as the brake band is in position to lock the piston from movement. Depression of the push button 79 temporarily releases the brake band and holds it released as long as this push button 79 is held depressed. Therefore, to close the press, both push buttons 75 and 79 must be depressed, and upon the release of the push button 79, the press is locked from further movement and from opening movement. When the operator releases the push button 75, the air is free to exhaust from the cylinder, but the press is held locked by the brake band. To open the press, the push button 79 is depressed to release the brake band whereupon the counter springs open the press.

What I claim is:

1. In a garment or laundry pressing machine, in combination, cooperative pressing elements, one of which is movable with respect to the other to open and close the press; power operating mechanism for the movable pressing element including a cylinder and piston motor; a rack formed on the piston rod of the motor; a piston engaging the rack; a brake drum driven by the piston; a brake band for friotional engagement with the brake drum; and an operator controlled means for moving the brake band into gripping relation with the drum to hold the press locked in closed position.

2. In a garment or laundry pressing machine, in combination, cooperative pressing elements, one of which is movable With respect to the other to open and close the press; power operating mechanism for the movable pressing element; a friction brake normally locking the operating mechanism against movement; a two-hand control means for controlling the operation of the pressing machine including a first manual, mechanism operated thereby for controlling the iiow of working fluid to the power operating mechanism, a second manual, and mechanism operated thereby for releasing the friction brake; and means to operate flow of working uid to the power operating mechanism.

4. In a garment or laundry pressing machine, in combination, cooperative pressing elements, one of which is movable with respect to the other to open and close the press; power operating mechanism for the movable pressing element; locking means normally locking the operating mechanism against movement; a two-hand control means for controlling the operation of the pressing machine including a iirst manual, mechanism operated thereby for controlling the flow of Working uid to the power operating mechanism, a second manual, and mechanism operated thereby for releasing the locking means; and means to operate the locking means when the second manual is released.

ERNEST DAVIS. 

